Pau Gasol knows Lakers have to do everything right to succeed

Pau Gasol wore a solemn expression, and the reasons appeared wide-ranging.

As he stood in front of his locker, Gasol struggled putting on his sports coat and noticed one of the buttons on his shirt sleeve came loose. His stuffy voice revealed the early signs of a cold. And then there was everything surrounding the disparity in the Lakers’ play in their season-opening win Tuesday against the Clippers followed by a dud Wednesday in Golden State.

“It just tells us that we’re not at the top of our game, defensively and offensively, we’re going to get beat,” said Gasol. “We just got to be extremely focused on everything. Otherwise we’re going to struggle.”

Gasol will have a bigger role this season for reasons beyond Dwight Howard’s departure to Houston. With Kobe Bryant staying sidelined with a torn left Achilles tendon and Steve Nash sitting out Wednesday against Golden State to preserve his 39-year-old body, Gasol stepped in Wednesday as the team’s spokesman.

“We got to be conscientious of all the little things we got to do on a regular basis if we want to have a chance (this season),” said Gasol, who has averaged 13.5 points on 45.5-percent shooting and 10 rebounds through two games. “We can’t bring it one night, not bring it the next and expect to win. Especially on the road and especially on a back-to-back. Either you understand that or you fail.”

Williams self-critical

“I just have to be ready,” said Williams, who has scored three points on 1-of-6 shooting through two games. “It starts with me.”

Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni has started Williams at power forward over Chris Kaman because of his preference for smaller lineups to boost the team’s athleticism and floor spacing. D’Antoni also has a strong attachment toward Williams after coaching him with the New York Knicks during the 2010-11 season when he recorded career-highs in points (7.1) and 3-point shooting (40.1 percent).

Kaman so far has exceeded Williams, posting two double-digit efforts through both games in an average of 19 minutes.

Would D’Antoni change the starting lineup for the Lakers’ game tonight against San Antonio at Staples Center?

“I’m not considering anything right now,” said D’Antoni, who gave the team the day off Thursday. “After getting beat by more than 30, everything looks bad.”

Williams, who joined the Lakers as a training camp invitee on a one-year deal, has remained deferential to D’Antoni. He has showed trust in Williams after he struggled during his five-year NBA career, including sitting out last year after Portland waived him.

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“The starting role is not important to me,” Williams said. “It doesn’t matter because we have a heck of a bench. The bench might play more minutes than me. Whatever coach is with, I’m with 100 percent.”